[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11965]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA

  (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman from 
Virginia for his courtesy, and I thank the Speaker.
  Yesterday was the 95th birthday of former President Nelson Mandela. 
What a joy to be able to hear that during the time of celebration that 
we had here in the United States Congress, President Mandela, who had 
been ill for a period of time, had earphones on and was looking at 
television. The words that came from the minority and majority leader, 
Republicans and Democrats, the Speaker and leader, Republicans and 
Democrats and various leaders of the House, commended and recognized 
that a man who had come from the tyranny of separation and apartheid, 
who had to be against his government in order to free his people, could 
be recognized and applauded, because when he walked out of Robben 
Island, he walked without bitterness.
  And one of the greatest opportunities that he gave to the world was 
the idea that there could be a democratic election in South Africa. And 
from that time, he has been a man who promoted peace and promoted love 
and led his nation out of the devastation of separation and bitterness 
with kindness and love.
  I'm delighted to stand on the floor today and say: happy birthday, 
Madiba; happy birthday, President Nelson Mandela. And if it's God's 
will, may you live forever onward in better health.

                          ____________________